In Preaching Articles: "Spiritual Preparation"

10 Ways To Half-Bake Your Sermon: Part 2

By Peter Mead on Aug 14, 2024

We all want to be "biblical" preachers, but are we really giving the text its due? Find out in the second part of this series by Peter Mead.

Tags: Bible, Preaching, Text, preparation, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

How Long To Preach: The Eternal Question

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 11, 2020

How long is too long? Let's just say many preachers overestimate their ability to hold an audience.

Tags: preparation, Time, communication, preaching, Communication, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Tests Of Pulpit Plagiarism: Do You Pass Them?

By Ron Forseth on Sep 3, 2024

How do you walk the line between preparation and outright theft? Here's help.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Romans 14:22-23

Tags: Preaching, preparation, Speech, theft, Plagiarism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Easy (And Overlooked) Keys To Better Preaching

By Erik Raymond on Sep 30, 2021

"I have never met a preacher who did not want to increase the effectiveness of his sermon. The question is where to start?"

Scripture: Acts 1:1-21, Acts 15:6-19

Tags: Plan, Preaching, preparation, Engage, Outline, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Does John Piper Do Sermon Prep? (Surprise! He Starts On Fridays)

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 1, 2023

John Piper shares what works for him--but cautions that it may not work for you.

Scripture: Acts 20:17-38

Tags: preaching, Preaching, prepare, Time, john piper  (view more)  (view less)

Restore Passion To Your Preaching: 3 Essential Steps

By Ken Davis on Nov 6, 2024

Do you sometimes find yourself preaching only because "Sunday is coming"?

Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:1-19

Tags: preaching, Preaching, preparation, passion, Process, restore  (view more)  (view less)

All Great Sermons Contain These Three Elements: Does Your Sermon Have Them?

By Ron Edmondson on Nov 4, 2021

The best part of my sermon message preparation is after it's written.

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-15

Tags: honor time, preaching, Preaching, preparation, intentional  (view more)  (view less)

Saturday Nights Are Not For Sermon Planning

By Hans Wunch on Oct 9, 2019

You spent so much time this week at the hospital with church members, you thought about stopping by human resources to pick up a paycheck.

Scripture: Luke 23:43

Tags: Preaching, guidance, prepare, sermon planning, leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Off The Cuff: A Sermon Outline You Can Use If You Don't Have Time To Prepare

By Ken Collins on Oct 19, 2019

You can learn how to preach a well-organized sermon off the cuff.

Tags: preaching, Plan, Preaching, Preaching Help, preach, extemporaneous  (view more)  (view less)

3 Reasons Why I Give My Listeners Homework (And Why You Should, Too)

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 21, 2025

When we ask something more of our congregation we will quickly discover whether we are preaching for spiritual entertainment or spiritual formation.

Tags: Discipleship

5 Church Growth Essentials From The Apostle Paul

By Charles Stone on Jun 23, 2023

When I was in seminary Church Growth 101 was a required course. I took interest in the whole field and became a student of church growth.

Scripture: Acts 13:1-52, Acts 14:1-28, Colossians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Acts 15:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Holy Spirit, relationships, Church Growth, Flexibility, spiritual formation  (view more)  (view less)

Don’t Try And Improve On God’s Methods

By Ray Ortlund on Apr 23, 2024

True awakening or revival is a glorious season in the life of the church when for His glory alone, God causes the ordinary means of His grace to make an extraordinary impact on many people.

Scripture: Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, Isaiah 1:15, Luke 19:9-10, John 3:8, Matthew 11:28-30, Acts 2:47  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grace, Prayer, revival, Church revival, spiritual awakening, grace  (view more)  (view less)

When To Throw Away Your Sermon Notes

By Ted Smith on Nov 13, 2020

Some preachers think it's more spiritual to preach without notes. Others think it's more spiritual to use notes. What if it's both?

Tags: Discernment, Preaching, neglect, habit, note, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

4 Ingredients Of A Home Run Sermon

By Rick Ezell on Feb 7, 2025

Can your preaching hit a home run week in and week out? Sunday comes every seven days whether your sermon is prepared or not.

Scripture: Mark 6:12

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, preparation, Religion, Relevance, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Authentic Preaching: Bringing Yourself Into The Message

By Craig Groeschel on Feb 14, 2025

Craig Groeschel encourages pastors to make sure they don't miss the key ingredient for authenticity in preaching.

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-24

Tags: Preaching, preparation, identity, authentic, Leadership General, preaching  (view more)  (view less)